Hey, I work at the YMCA and have a bumper sticker that says “In the beginning Man created God.” (though I usually try to park it so it’s not visible-why be inflammatory?) I’ve forgotten more comments then you’ve seen :D, but I agree, don’t be confrontational. Nobody likes a pushy jerk.
I was thinking about a bumper sticker, or a Darwin fish on my car. I’m worried it will get keyed though.
As a practical matter, it may behoove you keep your belief system…whatever it is… to yourself, as much as possible.
The more you talk about your beliefs, the more you become “married” to them…in your own mind, and in the minds of others. What if you want a “divorce” in the future? Maybe later in life you’ll decide that atheism isn’t working for you, and you want to convert to Christianity or Buddhism or whatever. (Or vice versa) On the chance that that happens, it’d probably be easier to make the transition if you’ve been discreet, all along.
Less is more. The less vocal you are now, the more flexible you may be, later in life.
That’s been my experience, anyway.
Now if only we could get the Christians to follow this bit of advice 
Not sharing your beliefs out of the fear you may some day find religion seems a little silly to me.
If atheism is any kind of belief at all, it is a belief in evidence. If Take the cannoli, is correct, then talk about it at EVERY opportunity, 'cause it would be damn stupid to decide later you want a ‘divorce’ from requiring evidence for belief.
I’ve had both a Darwin fish and an [symbol]ICQUS[/symbol] fish on my car. (I made sure I always had both.) If anyone asked what I was doing, I would point out that there was no conflict between them.
Hitler?
Reviewing thius thread, however, I think it will work better in IMHO or MPSIMS. There is really no debate, here.
Off to IMHO.
The people that really have a problem with either one of them won’t be asking you questions-they’ll be ripping them off your car when nobody is looking.
Probably true. I did not have that car long enough to find out.
Actually, atheism is held as a belief…in a lack of belief.
Fundamentally, all religions make the following statement: “That which is not disproven is therefore proven, hence there is a God” (I have faith).
Atheists fundamentally make the statement that “That which is not proven is therefore disproven, hence there is no God”. (I have faith).
The logical fallacy is the same in both cases and one is transformed into the other via a logical not.
Neither side can prove its case, and since both sides insist on their case, based on the same logical fallacy, both sides are indistinguishable.
Oh, and I would suggest that a lack of belief leads one to agnosticism rather than atheism.
What remarkable bullshit. Where did you find it?
Oh, not this again…
If proselytizing is wrong for the other guys, it’s wrong for you too.
Also, you’re not saying anything they haven’t heard already. They’re aware that atheism exists, and they’ve heard the arguments for it, they just don’t agree with them.
Then get active in politics. There are tons of spiritual/religious people who feel the same way you do about the above. Non-Christian spiritual people exist, for one; plus there are certainly Christians who don’t buy into the hard-right conservative politics. (Just read the news… the GOP is losing the women’s vote in droves because of their attitudes towards women’s healthcare et al. Certainly some of them are Christian, too.)
You’re presuming that one has to be atheist to be progressive, and/or that hard-right Christianity is the only religion that exists. Neither are true.
If this is really about feeling like you lack community, you can build community around things that aren’t religion/atheism (do you have any other interests? sports? photography?). Or, you can find yourself a humanist/unitarian community to be a part of. Your feelings have nothing to do with other people’s spiritual paths.
You don’t get to be the final arbiter of what life path is right for anyone but yourself, and it’s incredibly arrogant that you’d even suggest this. Welcome to adulthood, where you have to live in a plural society. Again, if proselytizing TO you is wrong, then so is proselytizing FROM you.
How often is religion coming up in conversation for you, anyway? For me it’s rarely, since most of the time I’m dealing with and discussing much more mundane things, like work, money, whether to cook or go out to eat. You’re making it out like this is a near-constant conversation you’re having with everyone you meet… and if that’s the case, I suspect you’re the one starting it most of the time.
What you can do, is stick to the topic at hand in conversations. If religion comes up, give honest and genuine answers to questions, but don’t presume that it will ever go any farther than that. Even better, if you can ask honest and genuine questions of others, and really listen open-mindedly to their answers, too. You might learn something, if only another perspective in the “agree to disagree” sense. (Agreeing to disagree is also a valuable life skill to have – develop it now, cuz you’ll need it a lot to get by in life.)
Bonus for this approach – if you meet someone who genuinely feels that atheism is right for them, you can lead by example without bludgeoning anyone else over the head.
Having a spiritual life does not automatically equate with having no critical thinking skills. Other people have had different – sometimes completely different – life experiences than you. If you can’t be moved to honor that, and respect people for living the life that works the best for them, at least accept it. Not everyone is like you, you’re going to have to learn to deal with that sooner or later.
Uh, no. I don’t think I’ve ever heard an atheist put it that way. Cite, please?
A fundamentalist Christian friend of mine said that he, and the members of his church, strove to bring people to Jesus by example. He says that even delicious frosted chocolate cake is obnoxious if it’s thrown at your shirt. So he tries to be a good person and live a good life, and if someone asks about his beliefs or why he is content, he will tell them about his relationship with his savior.
I think that approach would work with us non-believers too. Be a good, caring, charitable, socially involved person. If someone asks about your beliefs or why you are content, feel free to tell them. Your ideas will have more impact if you and your actions already have their respect.
As an aside, I don’t think that “churchy” people bring up church and Jesus to convert you necessarily, but because it’s a big part of their lives, and some of them can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t feel that way. If someone says “Merry Christmas!” or “you’ll be in my prayers” to me, I thank them and return the nice thought. Life’s too short to be offended by good wishes, I think.
I personally am annoyed beyond belief by people’s constant proselytizing. I have no objection whatsoever about asking them to please show proof of the existence of the god they are prattling about, or any other.
I’m also not adverse to asking them why they are disobeying the direct command of the Jesus they claim is their lord. When they ask what I mean, I ask them if they have ever read the bible, specifically Matthew chapter 6, where Jesus tells them to STFU.
[1] Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
[2] Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
[3] But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
[4] That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
[5] And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
[6] But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
[7] But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
I like to refer the folks who insist on public prayer to Matthew 6:6. Sometimes I get mutterings about how the Devil can quote scripture.
Everyone has an equal right to express what they do or don’t believe in. Christians, atheists, whatever…we’re human beings, and no one person is better than the other.
Atheists DO have an ethical obligation to speak up. To remain silent is to let the people who are speaking dominate the conversation and establish the norms. Think of the children who only pick up on the religious norms and not the reasonable ones.
Exactly how to speak up, and when and to whom, are certainly debatable. But I don’t see how we can be faulted merely for using the easy and obvious means through which people generally express themselves. If you have social media venues in which you express other elements of your world view, this belongs there too.
I think the model of speaking up about atheism would be the writings of the Four Horsemen of the New Atheism. Obviously few of us are going to be able to do it that well. But, it’s good to have heros.
I try to live my life as a good person. So when people finally discover I am atheist and they have made “atheist” out in their minds as some horned antisocial person they are surprised to find me, respectful, polite, friendly, never losing my temper, etc.
But hell yeah if someone asks me I respond factually.